Page 55 of Two Thousand Blades

“Agreed.” Xiao Dan gathered Fox’s slender frame up in his arms, forcing Xiang and Chen to release him. They sat watching as Xiao Dan took a small sip of Fox’s blood for the exchange and then bit his own wrist, pouring his ancient blood into the man’s throat.

Xiang placed a hand on Winter’s tense shoulder and squeezed. “Shixiong knows what he’s doing. That’s two-thousand-year-old vampire blood flowing into Fox. If we have to, the entire clan will donate to save his life.”

Winter dragged in a shuddering breath. “It’s too soon. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He wanted a few more years as a witch. He likes being a witch. The plan was to change him in a few years.”

While Moon had access to his powers thanks to him being a blood witch, the price was too high for him to access them. Fox, on the other hand, was an earth witch. The prevailing belief was that Fox would lose all of his magical powers when he became a vampire. Unfortunately, too few witches had been turned into vampires throughout history. They had no proof. Only speculation. It was the whole reason Fox had postponed making the switch for so long.

“He loves you more,” Moon argued. “I’d choose Chen over being a witch any day of the week.” The former witch’s lips twisted, and he huffed out a choked, awkward laugh. “I just need help from my clan to remember that from time to time.”

“Definitely,” Chen growled. He turned sad eyes on Xiang and bowed his head. “Thank you for saving my mate from his own impulsiveness.”

“Winter! Winter!” Bel rushed over to his younger brother’s side and wrapped his arms around him. Behind him was a naked Wyatt, and River in his fox form.

Winter clutched Bel’s arm hard enough that his knuckles turned white even through the coating of Fox’s blood. “I wasn’t protecting him. I think I’m too late. Fox…I’m going to lose my Fox.”

Bel wrapped his arms even tighter around his brother, and Xiang struggled to swallow past the lump in his throat. He wanted to tell Winter that Shixiong would save Fox, but he was afraid to put that kind of pressure on Xiao Dan. Sometimes, no matter how hard they tried, a person couldn’t be saved.

Minutes ticked by, and the rest of the Zhang clan gathered on the hill. Junjie and Meimei reported that the attacking fae were destroyed, though some had still escaped. The wolves had run for safety and were no longer in the immediate area. The humans who lived in the neighborhood had also escaped.

Kai soon appeared, standing behind Xiang’s shoulder. He was in his human form, but there wasn’t a drop of rain or blood on his clothes. In fact, while the rain continued to fall in a fine drizzle, there was now a clear bubble hanging over their group, shielding them from the rain.

Xiang tipped his head up toward the dragon. “Is there anything you can do?”

The dragon squinted at Fox in Xiao Dan’s arms, and his frown deepened. “My powers aren’t much good for healing humans, and this one is beyond my reach. The vampire blood is changing him as we speak. If I were to interfere, it would do more harm than good.”

He looked at Fox as Xiao Dan closed the wound on his arm. The ugly slash across Fox’s throat had closed, which showed that the vampire blood was working, but was it enough for Fox to change?

“Shixiong, can I offer my blood?” Junjie asked.

The eldest vampire shook his head. “He doesn’t need more blood.” Xiao Dan shifted Fox in his arms, holding him out to Winter. “Talk to him. Call him from the darkness and remind him what he has to live for.”

Winter nodded, gathering Fox close as tears continued to stream down his face and clog his voice. “Please, Fox. Come back to me. I need you. There is so much more we need to do together. We promised to spend the next several hundred years together. You…you still have to let me stick cheese doodles on your new fangs. It’s only fair,” he choked out with a forced laugh.

Bel reached past his brother and threaded his fingers through Fox’s soaked hair. “Fight, Fox. You’re a Varik now, and we’re fighters. You can’t leave us.”

Winter leaned in and pressed a feather-light kiss to Fox’s blood-stained lips. “I love you, Fox, with everything that I am. Come back to me.”

The words still hung in the air when Winter’s head jerked up. Xiang leaned in closer to see that Fox’s eyelids fluttered and his lips moved.

“What?” Winter choked out.

“Leave…my fangs…alone,” Fox whispered a little bit louder.

A shout of relief went up, and a sob broke from Winter as he hugged his new vampire boyfriend tight. He was alive…for a vampire.

“Celebrate later!” Xiao Dan snapped. “Chen, carry Fox to the cars. Junjie, help Winter. He’s lost too much blood. We will take you to the Varik manor and sort things out there the moment we are safe.”

Xiang helped Winter climb to his feet and stepped away, inspecting the dragon at his side. There was something large and black cradled in his arms.

“What are you holding?”

Kai glanced at the creature, the lines on his face easing. “I found this one on my way to you. He was hurt and dying, but he was still very desperate to get to someone.”

The sleek black bundle shifted, and a head popped up. A long, hooked beak opened, letting out a rather pathetic cry. Bel swung around and rushed to their sides.

“Ozzie!” he cried, his face crumbling into tears. “I’m so sorry. I lost you in the chaos.” With a trembling hand, he reached out and stroked the slick, black feathers on his head. “My sweet friend.”

“His wing was broken, but I mended it. He will need a couple of days of rest before he can fly,” Kai explained as he handed the raven over to Bel.

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